Thame Swimathon 2020

See below links to teams' fundraising pages. Please support the teams by making a donation!

- Wheatley Park School Interact Club

- Barley Hill Primary School Thame PTFA

- Watlington Primary School PTA

- Waterstock Swimmers

- The Diving Dolphins  

- Marine Minions

- Koala Club 

- Little Mermaids 

- Rapid 6

- John Hampden School Thame

- John Hampden School Thame - personal page Mariana Barzu

- Haddenham Junior School Swimathon Team

- Phoenix Community Club

- Dippers & Divers

- Team Q4

- Dippers and Divers - personal page Robert Wallis

...

TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE!  

1. Get a team of  4-6, complete Team Entry Form and send it to thame.swimathon@btinternet.com

2. Raise funds for charity

3. Swim for 1 h.

All ages from 8+ are invited to enter

Download here:

- Team Entry Form 

- Info Pack

- Sponsorship Form (only for cash fundraising) 

To start your fundraising page:

1. Go to https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/displayEventDetails.action?eventId=33755&charityId=1016883&invocation=evt0050  
2. Click on “Start Fundraising” button. You will need to be registered with Virgin Money Giving.
3. For support, please ring or text 07764 85 49 49 
   

Sponsors

The event is possible due to generous local sponsors who kindly covered most of the costs: Thame Leisure Centre (Better), Aston Hearing Thame, Haddenham Beer Festivals Trust.

 How does Thame Swimathon Work? 

We are looking for teams of up to 6 swimmers.  Each team is given a lane of the pool and will swim for 55 minutes.  BUT ONLY ONE TEAM MEMBER SWIMS AT A TIME. 

On average this means that each swimmer does about 10-20 lengths during the 55 minutes, but there is no need for each team member to swim the same number of lengths.

Every team member gets sponsorship for the TEAM either by total number of lengths swum which can be up to 100 lengths or sponsorship can be a lump sum for taking part.

Who benefits?

Everyone!

Local charities and a Team’s chosen charity if one is put forward.

The swimmers have lots of fun trying to swim as many lengths and raise as much sponsorship as they can.

Who can take part?

Anyone over the age of 8 – Local Groups - Charities – Companies - Families – Friends – Churches – Offices – Shops –Scouts & Guides – Cubs & Brownies – Swimming Clubs – Health Clubs - Schools & Colleges – Policemen – Firemen – Paramedics – Nurses & Doctors – Businesses – Dentists

Medals

Each team member who swims will be given a commemorative medal and a certificate.

What does a Team do?
Before the Swimathon

Download Team Entry Form, Info Pack - and, if you do cash fundraising, the Sponsorship Form 

For any questions ring/Text on 07764 85 49 49

or e-mail: thame.swimathon@btinternet.com

Team Captain sends the completed Team Entry Form to thame.swimathon@btinternet.com

Team Captain obtains allocated start time for Thame Swimathon from Rotary Club of Thame.

Whilst a preferred start time can be requested on the Entry Form this cannot be guaranteed.

Individuals in the Team find sponsors and enter these on their Sponsorship Forms. Sign up your Sponsors – as Gift Aid if possible. Remember to get the Form filled in correctly (see Form for guidance).  You can complete more than one Sponsorship Form if you wish.

Give completed Sponsorship Form(s) to your Team Captain before the Swimathon or on the day.

On the day of the Thame Swimathon
Before your swim

 Team turns up 45 minutes before their allocated start time. (Gather outside the Leisure Centre or inside and enter as a Team and go to the Thame Swimathon Welcome Area. Bring a £1.00 coin for your locker (returnable)

Individuals bring your sponsorship form(s) if you have not already handed them to your Team Captain. Please DO NOT bring your Sponsorship money to the Swimathon

Captain of Team hands in copy of Entry Form and Team Sponsorship Forms.

Team waits for Entry Form and Sponsorship Forms to be checked

Once Entry Form and Sponsorship Forms are checked Team get changed.

Team assembles pool side 15 minutes prior to their allocated start time i.e. 45 minutes before the hour.

Team waits 10 minutes until previous group of swimmers have finished got out of the water and left the start/finish end of the pool.

Team splits 3 to each end of the pool and enter water. NO DIVING IS ALLOWED.

Team swims their lengths with one swimmer swimming at any one time

Have a great Swim!

 Your Team’s lengths will be recorded for you

After your Swim

Exit the pool and receive medals on the way out of the pool area.

Teams change.

Team Captain goes to Registration and collects Certificates for each Entrant which will state Team Name and Lengths Swam by Team. Also the Team captain will receive a letter stating the amount pledged by the Team, being the total of all the Sponsorship Forms completed by the Team’s members and the Sponsorship Forms. 

After the Thame Swimathon

Individual Team Members collect their sponsorship forms from the Team Captain.

Team Members collect their sponsorship money.

Team Captain collects all Team Members sponsorship money and checks the total equals the amount pledged by the Team on the letter.

Charities Supported

All Rotary nominated charities to be supported by this event are local to Thame and neighbouring villages.

The main Local Charities supported by this event are Thame Young Carers, Red Kite Family Centre Thame & Chinnor, and The Maple Tree Children's Centre Wheatley. 

You have the option to fundraise for your preferred charity. See FAQ section below.

Q.       Why should I get involved?

A.       Not only to raise vital funds for local much needed charities BUT to have lots of FUN being part of a great day

Q.  What types of teams enter?

A.  We have teams from schools, youth groups (eg Scouts), families, work colleagues, sports clubs, local businesses, charities and groups of friends.  Everyone is made very welcome, and they all leave with a great sense of achievement.  

Q.  How well do I have to be able to swim if I want to enter?

A.  All swimmers have to be safe in 3 ft water, but because you only swim one length at a time you don’t have to be especially strong, just confident.  You will be in the water for 55 minutes, but you will be resting between lengths. The whole team may swim about 100 lengths altogether, but if one of you is much stronger than the others, that person could swim more lengths than their team mates.  Taking part is what really matters.  

Q. Are Rotary in sole charge of the Event?

A. The activity within the Pool building is under the supervision and control of the Pool management at all times. Rotary Club of Thame is organising the Event.  

Q. Can children enter?

A: The minimum age for swimmers is eight years (at the time of the event). Children under sixteen years old need the consent of their parents or guardians or carers. In the case of School Teams, this may be arranged through the school, if the Rotary Club of Thame agrees in advance.  

Q. How are the supported charities chosen?

A. The Rotary Club of Thame chooses those local charities which in its view are most deserving of support.  As to the number of charities, we wish to make a worthwhile contribution to those that we support, but also to spread the benefit. Supporting up to five charities each year has seemed appropriate.   

Q. Can I fundraise for my preferred charity?

A. You have got the option to allocate 50% of your team’s money raised towards the charity of your choice or 100% towards Rotary’s charities. You can indicate this by ticking the appropriate option on the Team Entry Form. In both cases all moneys will be collected by Rotary Club of Thame which will apply for Gift Aid as appropriate. Once this process is completed, Rotary Club of Thame will make a donation towards the charity of your choice, should this option be taken.  

Q. Can I fundraise on line?

A. Yes. You can create your own fundraising page on Virgin Money Giving Portal under the Thame Swimathon 2020 page and then share the link with your family, friends, and colleagues asking them to donate online. 

Q. Can swimmers wear a wet suit type of costume?

A. Yes they can

Q. Do they need to wear swimming hats?

A. No they don't.

Q. Can they swim any stroke they like? Can they alternate strokes?

A. Yes, any style of swim is allowed: crawl, stroke, back stroke, butterfly etc. They can alternate the stroke at any time they like. They can swim any stroke they like, but only one swimmer swims at a time. Stronger swimmers might want to swim more, whilst others might want to rest more.   

To start you fundraising page:

1. Go to https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/displayEventDetails.action?eventId=33755&charityId=1016883&invocation=evt0050   
2. Click on “Start Fundraising” button. You will need to be registered with Virgin Money Giving.
3. For support, please ring or text 07764 85 49 49

Thame Swimathon in the media

Thame.net in Jan 2020: Sign up of the Thame Swimathon!

Thame Hub in Jan 2020: Thame Swimathon Public Appeal for 10 teams

Thame Gazette on 15 Feb 2019: Call for last few swimmers to join Swimathon in Thame

Thame.net in Feb 2019: 4 more teams needed for Thame Swimathon

Thame Hub in Feb 2019: Thame Swimathon public appeal for 4 more teams

Thame Gazette on 7 January 2017: Join in with this year's Thame Swimathon

Thame.net on 6 December 2016: Challenge Yourself! The Thame Swimathon 2017

Thame Hub in December 2016: Thame Swimathon 2017

Mix 96 FM on 3 March 2016 -  34 Miles Swam at Thame Charity Event

Mix 96 FM on 28 Feb 2016 - Swimathon Returns to Thame

Thame.net on 24 Feb 2016: It’s time to support the teams for Thame Swimathon 2016!

Thame.net on 26 Jan 2016: Grab a free slot at The Thame Swimathon 2016!